Method of and machine for printing calendars



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Jan; 2 1945.

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METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING CALENDARS Filed May 28 1943 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 2, 1945 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOB. PRINTING CALENDARS John 0. Wahl, Chicago, 111.

Application May '28, 1943, Serial No. 488,815

Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines more particularly intended for the printing of calendars to be made up in pad form, and to a method of printing and stacking the sheets from which said pads are made up.

Heretoi'ore it has been the practice to simultaneously print a number of calendar sheets bearing the same date and place them in a separate pile or stack. When all of the different sheets covering a whole year have been printed, or when a number of them have been printed. the calendars are made up by taking a sheet from each different pile until a complete calendar pad has been built up.

This method involves a considerable amount of labor, and unnecessary handling of the indivldual sheets of the pad, often resulting in that many of the sheets become too soiled for use and have to be discarded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine which will avoid the above recited disadvantages and which will accordingly effect a saving in labor, the soiling of sheets and the resultant wastage.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine adapted to continuously and automatically print and stack calendar sheets in proper sequential order.

Another object of my invention is to provide a continuous method for printing and stacking calendar sheets in sequential order,

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the machine of the invention is provided with means whereby the required data can be printed on each sheet, new data being automatically brought into position for each succeeding sheet as the paper on which they are printed passes through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example one embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine of the invention shown in the printing position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 3 is a Plan view of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the discharge end of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 6 is a section taken generally along the line 56 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a section taken generally along the line '|--1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed plan view showing the chain, certain of the printing heads, and associated parts for operating the heads;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 8, taken on the line !I thereof;

Fig. 10 is a detailed section illustrating the mechanism for operating certain of the printing heads: I

Fig. 11 is a similar view to Fig. 10 showing the mechanism in a diflerent position:

Fig. 12 is a sectional view illustrating the mechanism for operating certain other of the printing heads:

Fig. 13 is a similar view to Fig. 12 showing the mechanism in a diflerent position;

Figs. 12a and 13:: are views corresponding to Figs. 12 and 13, respectively, but showing mechanism as embodied in the machine for printing calendars on leap years;

Fig. 14 is a section illustrating the mechanism for operating certain i'urther oi the printing heads; a

Fig. 15 is a similar view to Fig. 14 showing the mechanism in different position:

Fig. 16 is a cross-section taken generally along the line lS-IB of Fig. 8:

Fig. 16a is another cross-section of the mechanism of Fig. 8, on the line lid-Ito thereof;

Fig. 17 is a detailed section of one set of cutting dies taken generally along line Il-ll of Fig. 18;

Fig. 18 is a section taken along the line lI-II of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is an elevational view of the hopperactutaing mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a similar view to Fig. 19, but showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 21 is a plan view showing the intermittent driving mechanism for the paper feed;

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 21;

Fig, 23 is a sectional view at the various types of printing heads, including two juxtaposed heads in combined form; r

Fig. 24 is a face view of one of the calendar pad sheets produced by the present machine:

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic view of the machine, illustrating the sequence of operations; and

Fig. 28 is a plan view of a. strip 01' paper illustrating the operations performed thereon by the machine of the invention.

This application is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application, Serial No. 377,227, filed February 3, 1941, and entitled Method of and machine tor printing calendars.

General arrangement The general arrangement; of the machine of the present invention will be first described and this can be best done by referring to Figs. 24, 25 and 26 of the drawings.

Fig. 24 shows one sheet A of a calendar pad printed according to the present invention, it being noted that this sheet. similar to every other sheet necessary to make up the pad, is rectangular in shape. has a plurality of spaced lines B extending transversely thereof, a current month block C printed to one side thereof, and a past and succeeding month block D printed at the opposite side of the sheet, whilst disposed between the blocks C and D i printed the day E of the month in numerals and the name of the day of the week F. G are the usual holes by means of which the sheets are held in place by any suitable means and which are made in the course of the passage of the sheets through the machine as will hereinafter appear.

Turning now to Figs. 25 and 26, the main frame H of the machine is carried as usual by suitable supports I, and the paper P, which is in the form of a continuous strip and of any suitable stock, is fed on to the bed plate of the machine at the right hand end and first passes beneath the liner L where the lines B are drawn thereon. The paper strip 1? in its forward movement next passes beneath the printing heads or wheels J carried by a pivoted superstructure K which comprises a pair of vertically disposed plates, one disposed at each side of the main frame H of the machine. There are four of these heads for each calendar being printed (see Fig. 3). one of these .7 printing the current month block C. the next J printing numerically the day of the month E, the third J the day of the week F and the fourth J printing the past and succeeding month block D. Incidentally, here it should be mentioned that the machine shown in the drawings is designed to print four sets of sheets transversely of the same continuous strip of paper P simultaneously, as will be clear from Figs. 3 and 26, but it is to be understood that the machine may be modified to print a smaller or a greater number of identical sheets at one and the same time.

After the printing the paper strip proceeds to the cutting mechanism M which cuts the sheets A from the strip P and from whence they pass to the conveyor N and finally pass to and are collected in the hopper O. The hopper is divided into a plurality of compartments O and as the machine prints the sheets in consecutive date order it, will be seen that by retaining the hopper in the same position until 365 sheets have been printed-or 366 in case of a leap year-a complete calendar pad with the sheets in correct sequence can be built up in that compartment 0 which is juxtaposed to the conveyor N.

R. illustrates diagrammatically the mechanism for the printing heads.

The printing heads All of the printing heads are mounted on a shaft 2 (see Figs. 1 and 2). the ends of which are carried by the superstructure K. All of the various heads J are fixed to the shaft 2 for rotation therewith, as are also all the wheels J, the juxtaposed intermediate wheels J and J being (see Fig. 3). in fact, formed as one wheel. as shown in Fig. 23, whilst the one outside wheel J (see Fig. 3) and the one outside wheel J at the opposite side of the machine are single wheels.

Each of the heads J which prints the current inking month block 0 on the paper strip, carries twelve plates 4, Fig. 7, one plate, of course, for each month of the year.

Each of the heads J which prints the past and succeeding month block D also has twelve plates 4 (see Figs. 8. l0 and 11), each carrying data of the month preceding and of the month succeeding the month being printed.

All of these heads J and J are driven with the shaft 2 to which they are fixed, from means attached to the outside wheel J and which means takes the form of a circular plate 6 having twelve notches 8 provided therein and a ratchet wheel Ill in the circumference of which is disposed twelve teeth i2.

The revolution of the said wheels J 1 and J is brought about by the engagement with the said teeth I2 of a plunger arm M, the opposite end of which is pivoted to an arm l6 fixed to an operating shaft I8. The movement of the arm IE to bring about the forward movement of the plunger and in turn the step-by-step rotation of the wheels J and J, is effected by the raising of the superstructure K, as will hereinafter be described, through the intervention of a depending arm 20 connected to said shaft I8 and having at its lower end a pin 22 which projects through a slot 24 in one side of the superstructure K. (See Fig. 2.)

The heads J which print the days of the month in numerals (see Figs. 8, 14, and 15) are each provided with thirty-one peripheral portions 26, each bearing consecutively the numbers one to thirtyone, an equivalent number of teeth 28 being formed in a ratchet wheel 30 attached to each head J Each head J has a step-by-step motion imparted to it through the instrumentality of said teeth by means of a plunger 32 pivotally connected to an arm 34 which in turn is fixed to the shaft l8. There are four arms 34 on the shaft I8, and four plungers 32 (see Fig. 3) one for each of the four heads J. The heads J are loosely mounted on shaft 2, and are individually actuated by their respective arms 32. Between the portions 26 on each head J are formed notches 35. the

purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The heads J which print the days f the week (see Figs. 8, l2, and 13) are each provided in the present instance with twenty-eight types 36, which consecutively carry indications of the days of the weekSunday, for example-and have fixed thereto a ratchet wheel 38 having an equivalent number of teeth 40, whilst between the types 36 in each head J are formed notches 42-the latter for a purpose to be explained later,

The step-by-step rotation of each of heads J which are loosely mounted on shaft 2, is effected by means of an associated operating member or plunger 4| pivotally connected to and actuated by the same arms 34 on shaft IB, which also operate plungers 32 for heads J To effect the printing of calendars on leap years special operating plungers filo, as shown in Figs. 12a, and 13a, are provided, and substituted for the plungers 4i, for actuating the heads J as will be later described.

Having thus described the construction of the various printing heads and their respective functions, the mechanism for rotating said heads in order to advance succeeding plates to the printing position at the proper time or intervals will now be explained.

The superstructure K, which is pivoted to the main frame H of the machine at M (Fig. 1) is provided with an extension in the form of a plate K (Figs, 1, 2, and 3) at one side of the machine;

and carried by a plurality of sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on said plate in an endless chain 48 normally consisting of 365 links-the equivalent of one for each day of a normal year. When printing leap year calendars an additional link is added to the chain.

The machine is driven from any suitable source of power such as an electric motor 50, which, through a belt 52 drives a shaft 54, on which at opposite sides of the machine is mounted a cam 56. Each side plate of the superstructure K has a downwardly extending portion 58 (Fig. 2). which carries a roller 60 engaging the cam 58. The contour of the cam is such that it will raise the superstructure K and maintain it raised and then allow it to return to its lowermost position more or less suddenly.

Adjacent and fixed to the upper left-hand sprocket wheel 46 carrying the chain 48 (see Figs. 8 and 9) is a ratchet wheel 62 to which is imparted a step-by-step movement through the instrumentality of a plunger 64 which is connected to the actuating arm l6 fixed to the shaft i8. Plunger 66 is pivotally connected to the arm I6 by means of a pin 66 extending through a slot 68 in one side of the superstructure K. Thus as the ratchet wheel 62 is rotated, the chain 48 is moved forwardly link by link. Arm l6 operates both the plunger l4 and the plunger 84.

Pivotally mounted on one side of the main frame H at 10 (see Figs. 2 and 3) is a curved arm 12, which is in turn pivotally connected at 14 to a second arm 16 pivoted at 18. The opposite end of the second arm 16 is provided with a slot 80 in which engages a pin 82 carried by one arm of the bell-crank lever 84 pivoted to the superstructure K at 86. and the other arm of which bellcrank lever 84 is provided with a. U-shaped slot 88 for engaging pin 22.

Also mounted on the pivot 18 is a star wheel so, which is adapted to be operated by a springpressed pawl 92 carried by the arm 16. As the superstructure is raised by the action of the cam 56, the arm 12 being fixed by its pivot 10 causes the second arm 16 to be rotated on its pivot I8 and through the medium of pawl 92 causes the rotation of the star wheel 90 counterclockwise in Fig. 1. The teeth of the star wheel engage a pin 94 which projects into its pat! through slot 9% in the superstructure K, this pin being attached to arm 98 fixed to and dependim; iron. a detent shaft Hi (see Fig. 7, for example.

The shaft I00 extends transversely across the machine (see Fig. 3) and at intervals is provide-2i with detents, one detent 102 being provided to control the outside printing head J and hence through it the remaining heads J and all of the associated heads J further detents Hi4 being provided to control each of the printing heads J and still further detents I06 being provided to control each of the printing heads J All of the detents are fixed to shaft I00 and normally engage their respective notched heads, being held in this position by means of a sprin I08 Fig. '7) attached at one end to the arm 98, and at the other end to a pin H0 projecting from the superstructure K.

When the superstructure K is raised, as hereinbefore described, the star wheel 90 is turned by its pawl 92 and the pin 94 is then pushed from the right-hand side of the slot 96 to the left-hand side, this operation moving the arm 98 against the action of the spring I08 from the right to the left (see Fig. 7) and this in turn releasing the detents from engagement with the teeth of their respective ratchet wheels, leaving the printing heads then free to be rotated or indexed bytheh' plungers.

The pivoting of the second arm 16 about its pivot (8 simultaneously causes the bell-crank lever 84 to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. thi movement moving the pin 22 from the left-hand side of the slot 24 to the right-hand side thereof, this action. of course, also moving the arm 20 attached to the shaft l8 in like direction, and causing the various plunger arms to be moved forward, or to the left in Fig. 7, for example. As to whether this forward movement of said plungers will be effective to rotate their respective printing heads or not is determined by means which will hereinafter be described.

It will be noted that the movement of the pin 22 is brought about by its engagement in the U- shaped slot 88 of the bell-crank lever 84. The left-hand leg of the U is made slightly shorter than is the right leg thereof, with the result that after the pin 22 reaches the right-hand extremity of the slot 24 the pin having just left the slot 88, the said shorter leg can move underneath the pin and thus hold the pin in this position and still permit further travel of the bell-crank arm as the superstructure K continues to rise, this causing a dwell in the movement of the actuating plungers to hold the printing heads in position and provide time for the teeth of the star wheel to disengage the pin 94 and allow the detents I02. I04 and NIL-under influence of the spring I08- to snap back into engagement with the teeth of their notched wheels and thu lock the printing heads in position before the actuating plungers are released from engagement therewith.

Control of printing head rotating mechanism Printing heads J 1 and J are rotated by means of the single plunger I4 (see Figs. 8, l0, and 11). Plunger I4 is normally held in a raised inoperative position by means of pin H2, carried at the outer extremity of one arm of a bell-crank lever H4 rotatably mounted on the reduced portion Ilia. of a shaft H6 see also Fig. 16), the outer extremity of the other arm of said bell-crank lever being also provided with a pin III! which engages a slot in the outer extremity of one arm of a second bell-crank lever I20, rotatably mounted on a shaft I22 carried by the superstructure K.

As has hereinbefore been stated, the endless chain 48 is provided with 365 links (or 366 links on leap year) and is adapted to be rotated one link at a time by means of the plunger 64. The position of the printing heads J and J has only to be changed after all the sheets for any particular month have been printed-that is to say, if sheets for the month of June have just been printed, then the printing heads J and J must be moved one step forward in order that the monthly data provided by these heads is changed for the printing of sheets for the month of July. The position of such reads will not again have to be changed until a sheet has been printed for every day in Julythat is to say, until the chain has been moved thirty-one steps forward. Every time a sheet is prin ed, however. the plunger I4 is moved forwardly. but as has been explained, is kept raised by the pin H2 so that its forward thrust will not rotate the printing heads J and J To allow the forward movement of the plunger to be eifective at the times desired-that is to say. on the completion of the printing of sheets for 

